Eye diseases and the causes of blindness in the southwestern Equator (equatorial forest) in Zaire, data from an eye camp in three rural centers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine frequencies of eye diseases and causes of blindness in this rural area.


METHODS
During a one month period (February 1996), a study was carried out in three rural centers (Mbandaka, Iboko, Lukolela) in the South Western Equator, in the tropical equatorial forest area. A total of 700 patients were examined and ophthalmological examination included visual acuity, inspection of adnexa, refraction, slit-lamp examination, direct funduscopy and intraocular pressures.


RESULTS
Cataract and glaucoma were the major ocular diseases found. Among the patients 1/5 was legally blind, and common causes of blindness were: cataract (54%), glaucoma (30%), uveitis (6%), corneal disorder (5%), retinitis pigmentosa (3%), atrophy of eye (3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Cataract and glaucoma constituted a public health problem in this rural area of Zaïre.
Kaimbo wa Kaimbo
D
D
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Kinshasa, Zaïre.
Missotten
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000453:epidemiology; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014197:Trees; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014605:Uveitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity